Speakers at the meeting of Hamdard Naunehal Assembly Karachi chapter paid rich tribute to Hakim Mohammed Said and said that he was a torch bearer of education and knowledge in the country. The meeting comprised speeches, tableau and dua-i-Said, was held yesterday on the theme: “Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said’s educational services and 25 years of Hamdard Universisty” at Bait al-Hikmah auditorium, Madinat al-Hikmah, Karachi.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest, honourary secretary, Board of Sindh Madrastul Islam University, former commissioner Karachi and home secretary Sindh, Shafiqur Rehman Piracha said that Hakim Mohammed Said came to Pakistan like the pray (poem) of Allama Iqbal: “May my life be like the candle of knowledge” and holding a torch of education and knowledge in his hand he started to fight against the glooms of poverty, ignorance and social injustices and raised voice against mismanagement and corruption of rulers.

He said when the sword of Muslims had gone down in subcontinent, their pen started to rise up and the journey of pen which began from Sir Syed reached Hakim Said through Hali, Iqbal, Zafar Ali Khan and Hasrat Mohani. Hakim Said was the continuation of Sir Syed, Hali and Iqbal, he added.

He said Hakim Said promoted the spirit of patriotism – ‘Pakistaniat’ and dedicated the earning of his institution to the health, education and welfare of the nation. He was a big supporter of women empowerment as he gave equal representation to girls along with boys in his ‘Naunehal Assembly, because he wanted to create a new, modern and Islamic society in the country.

The big weapon of Hakim Said was his simplicity and contentment, he always preached to, he said adding that Hakim Said had changed a desert into an oasis and made natural things more useful for human beings, which is called value addition.

The pain, Hakim Said felt for the poor in his hearts, was oblivious from his writings as he wanted to provide equal opportunities of education and progress and level play field for deprived children and that’s why he supported the uniform syllabus and education system for all children in the country. He established ‘Hamdard Village School’ at Madinat al-Hikmah for village children. Taking inspiration from Hamdard Village School his (Piracha’s) organization has also set up some village schools at different places, he informed.

Commending the speeches of young speakers, he told the children: ‘whatever lying in the grave of Hakim Said is his hardware, his software are you, his ideas and teaching. At the time of departure from the world, Hakim Said would have certainly said and his words may still be in the air: “I awake and make you awake, now I am going, you should wake and awake the world.”

Earlier, addressing the meeting Mrs. Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan said: “Taking education is incumbent on Muslim man and woman” as ordained by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and in the presence of this command negligence of education on the part of governments was beyond comprehension.

She said that the “Talimi Report”, compiled by Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said, was a leading document that should be taken into account for framing the syllabus and system of education and be made part of educational planning.

Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said had lighted his candle to spread light in the society when he laid down the foundation of Madinat al-Hikmah, a city of education, science and culture in 1983. In the completion of this giant project four words: ‘God is the great’ were the guiding light for Hakim Sahib. ‘It is now our duty to carry forward this project’, she added.

Young speakers also spoke and paid rich tribute to Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said, his achievements and services. Two students of Hamdard Village School, Nadir Ali and Razmeen who are now studying in faculties of engineering and medicine in Hamdard University respectively said on the occasion: “They are very much indebted to Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said and dedicatedly would serve the nation as engineer and doctor according to Hakim Sahib’s advice. Maryam Akbar compared the meeting in which besides Fatima Munir Ahmed, Vice President, Madinat al-Hikmah, distinguished guests, parents, teachers and children participated in a large number.